Bottle carrier



Feb. 9, 1954 E. L. ARNESON 2,668,653

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 12, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l 35 IN VEN TOR.

Feb, 9, 1954 E. L. ARNESON 2,668,653

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 12, 1949 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 4 W 37 M lg, 55 36 6 I /7 .3'0 /6 53 3 I 2g INVENTOR. 30 [awwldrzzaaam BY 4/ fl0 42 i0 Patented Feb. 9, 1954 BOTTLE CARRIER Edwin L. Arneson, Morris, 11]., assignor to Morris Paper Mills, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illi- Application February 12, 1949, Serial No. 76,124

8 Claims. 1

The present inventionpertains to an improved carrier for bottles or like elongated articles of uni rm iz andeh peo a artiqu arlv t invention relates to an improved ,carrier of this type which is fabricated of flexible paperboard stock'a-nd is of a collapsible character, adapted to be quickly and easily erected from a flat knocked-down condition -to an erected, operativeconditiomand to improved means forholding-the carrier in-said erected condition.

Itisanpbject of the invention to provide an inexpensive, collapsible, paperboard bottle carrier of the foregoing type-which is featured by acentral, upstanding suspending panel of composite, multi-part character, side walls parallel to andon oppositesides ofsaid panel, end walls at opposite ends thereof and ,a transverse partition structure extending .between said respective side walls and central panel, in which novel means are employed to interconnect and loclgi-ngly engagesaid-transverse partition structure with the elements of said central panel, including a separate Wire handle member serving as-a suspendingelement for the carrier and its contents and as a lockingelement to-lock the aforesaid panel and p a-rtitio n parts inoperative relation.

Yetanother object of the invention istoprovide a bottle carrier of the type referred to in the preceding paragraph, in which portions of said central panel are integrally connected to certainbottom defining panels of thecarrieras a vertical extension thereof, and in which certain further, centrally disposed elements integrally connected tothe end Walls and said cross partition structure of the-carrier areinterleaved with said central panel portions 7 when the latter are inerected condition, being lockedthereto by a separate vertically depressible handle element of thecarrier.

A still further object is to provide a bottle carrier of the open top type, well adapted to be loaded by standardfill omatic filling machines, in which the loaded bottles ;are well separated from and protected from damage by one another, which occupies a minimum ,of space in its fiat knocked-down condition and which is u k a e ilv e e ted manu l y t oper v os o an Q d sa o i onb th an member-referred to.

-More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a flexible paperboard bottle carrier of the open top, upstanding center panel type, characterized by cross partition elements whi h a e u m m t ria o hecar ie sid Wall an i on the en e panel n w ich said cen e an i onstituted a t b nte a u stand xt ns o o the bo of erri andin ar ce tain enac in p ie aer a are .cut f om the end wa ls of the carrier, the arrangement'beinglsuchthat the center panel 1 is interleaved, at its opposite ends, between said plies, said centenpanelabeing further provided with .elongated apertures aadjacent the interleaved portions for the reception of the -terminal:bails of a wire-handle mam.- ber, which serves to lock the parts hrtheirop erative interleaved relationship.

The foregoing statements are indicativeain a general Way of the nature of the inventionpbu-t other and more specific objects willlbe-appare'nt to those skilled in the art upon .a full under,- standing of the construction and opera-tionpf the device.

A single embodiment of thetinvention is;pre. sented herein for purpose of exemplification, but it will be appreciated that theinvention issusceptible of incorporation in. other modified *forr'n's coming equally within the scope-of theappended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a plan view. of apaperboard bla'nkem-i ployed in the constructionof the presentbottle carrier, illustrating saidblank following'certain preliminary slitting, creasing and gluin'g.-opera'-' tions performed thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating the blank preiliminarily folded on itselfand .providedewitha further application of glue;

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustratingthe'blank foli-ilowing a succeeding folding operation;

Fig. 4 is .a plan view illustrating .the carton produced by the operations shown in'iiig's. 1,2 and 3, in the completed knocked-down condition of said carton;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating thelcars rier in its fully erected conditiomready,foi the reception of its intended contents; and

Fig. 6 is aview in transverse ver,tical ='section along a line generally correspondingto 1i'11e;6?6 of Fig. 5, further illustrating-details ofstructure and relationship of the ear-rier and coactingsuspending member therefor.

Referring to Fig. .1 of the drawings, theearrier of the present invention is fabricated rorn a died out blank, generally designated l0, of;-fle;x:- ible paperboard .stock of a suitable ,grade ,er

, thickness. lt will be notedthat the;blanl ,oom-

prises two main-sections H, 12 which are approximately symmetric about ,the connecting vertical, creased fold line l3. Accordingly, to the extent thatthe parts ofthese'seetionscor: nd th will b indicated b correseondi reference numerals and a description of but of h s on w su fic p cific-fil ng in detail will be specially indicated. I, Y

Each section includes anend-wall andflengitudinal partition-defining panel it, said panels in flexibly s eed by the. er ica 3 r e e b v an d r s eet r nainl are in turn integrally and flexibly connected by a crease I5 with a side wall and cross partition defining panel I6. Each of the respective panels I4 and I6 is subdivided into further elements or sections which will hereinafter be referred to in.

detail.

The panels I6 have the margins thereof op' posite the crease I5 defined by a further crease I1 parallel thereto. In thecase of the panel which is a part of the section II, the crease I1 serves to flexibly hinge thereto a flap I8 which ultimately serves as a glue'lap for an end wall of the carrier. A further flap I9 is separated from flap I8 by a slot 20, which flap I9 ultimately serves as a glue lap associated with the longitudinal partition structure of the completed carrier. In the case of the panel I6 which is associated with the carrier section I2, the crease II serves to hingedly conjoin thereto the successive end wall and longitudinal partition defining panels 22, 22. These are flexibly connected to one another by a vertical crease 23 paralleling the crease I1.

The panels I4, I6 and '22 are provided with various slits which parallel the upper margin of the blank, as viewed in Fig. 1, and serve to subdivide said respective panels into various wall sections and partition elements as follows: Considering the side wall and cross partition defining panel I6 on the section I I of the blank, an angled slit 24 extends from slot 20 inwardly, then downwardly, terminating at a distance from crease I'I approximately one-third the width of the panel, at the inner end of one of a pair of parallel vertical creases 25 in said panel. Said creases 25 are aligned with the sides of an outwardly projecting reinforcing flap 26 of rectangular shape. Another'angled slit 2'! similarly extends from the end of the other crease 25 across the marginal crease I5 of said panel. Slits 24, 2'! subdivide the panel I6 into a side wall member 28. and a pair of like cross partition straps 29 which are disposed at a right angle to said wall member when the carton is erected to its operative position shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

The above mentioned slit 21 extends across crease I5 into the adjacent end wall and longitudinal partition defining panel I4, angling upwardly and terminating at the crease I3. slit 2'! thus subdivides one of the panels I4 into an end wall member 30 and a longitudinal partition forming element 3|. I

The shaped slits 33, 34 and 35 in the remaining panel I4, in the side wall panel I6 of the remaining main carrier sections I2, and in the panels 22 serve a like function in subdividing said respective panels into partition elements and wall members, in a manner which will be evident to those skilled in the art. Thus, slit 33 separates the panel I4 into longitudinal partition forming element 3| and an end wall member 30, and also separates a cross partition element 29 of the adjacent panel I6 from the wall proper of said panel.' A corresponding portion of the slit 34' defines thefurther crosspartition element or strap 29, while the terminal portion of said slit 34 separates the longitudinal partition strap or element 3| from an end wall member 30. Slit 35 separates the outermost panel 32 into a longitudinal partition element 31 and an end wall member 38. 7 t v v It will be noted that the reinforcing flaps 25 are of sufficient size that, when folded inwardly onto the side members 28, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, they overlie the termini of the 4 respective slits 24, 21 and 33, 34, thereby acting to prevent tearing at these slit termini.

Each side wall member 28 has a rectangular bottom forming panel 40 flexibly conjoined along ..one side thereof by an elongated crease 4|, the

opposite margin of said panel being defined by aparallel crease 42. Said crease serves to flexibly conjoin a handle panel 43 to the bottom panel 40. These handle panels are each provided with a pair of elongated, predeterminedly spaced, vertically extending slots 43 for a purpose to be described. Foldable gussets 44 are hingedly connected to the bottom forming panels 40 by parallel creases or scores 45, said gussets being similarly hinged to the respective end wall members IB and 30 by extensions 4| of the elongated crease 40. These gussets are subdivided by'the diagonal creases 46, each terminating at the juncture of the respective creases 4i and 45.

In completing the carrier, adhesive 4'! is applied to the blank at predetermined areas as indicated by stippling. These areas include the reinforcing flaps 26 and. portions of the longitudinal partition defining elements 3| immedi ately adjoining the respective creases I3, 23, also to the longitudinal partition forming element I9 adjacent its outer end. The gussets 44 are also glued as shown. The flaps 26 are then folded inwardly and downwardly and adhered to the side wall members 28, after which the handle panels 43, bottom panels 40 and associated gussets 44 are similarly folded inwardly and downwardly about crease M and adhered at their glued areas to the respective conjoined parts of the blank.

This leaves the blank in the condition shown in Fig. 2, at which time further adhesive 48 is applied to the upper surface of one of the handle panels 43. ,The thus prepared blank is then folded about the medial crease I3 to the position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3, and the carrier is brought to completed form by folding the partition element 31 and end wall member 38 inwardly and downwardlyabout crease 23 onto the adjacent corresponding partition element I9 and end wall member I8, as illustrated in Fig. 4. 7

By reference to Fig. 5 it will be noted that the down turned flap 26 not only affords an additional thickness of material at the side wall, it also extends past the lower termini of the creases 25 which hinge transverse partition elements 29 to the side walls. 7 It thus serves as a block across the side wall slit which frees partition elements 29 from the side wall, preventing horizontal tear of the side wall in this relatively weak, slitted zone.

In erecting the carton to operative condition illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, it is merely necessary to exert compressive pressure on the opposite end margins of the completed, knocked-down article represented by the creases I 3, 23, causing the side walls 28 to separate in parallel relation to one another and the end wall sections 39, 39 and I8, 30, 38 to approach coplanar relation to'one another at the respective opposite ends of the carrier. Said sections hinge about creases I3, 23 respectively toward position normal to side walls 28.

In completed condition, the pair of longitudinal partition elements 3| atone end of the carrier are secured to one another by the adhesive 41 immediately adjoining crease I3 to constitute a two-walled longitudinal partition structure adjacent one end of the carton. However the plies of said structure are partially separated at a zone remote from said crease to form 'a longitudinal pocket 49 disposed inwardly :of the adjacent carrier end wall, defined .bysections 139, 3B. The elements 19,31 and .31 which are-atthe opposite end of the carrier are correspondingly adhered to'one another to provide a like pocketA-Sedjacent and inwardlyzof the-crease -23 of saidloppositeend wall. Element 31 'overlies the side ofrelementl-S-and reinforces the longitudinalpartition structure ;at this point.

Coincident with the swinging-of the iendawall members of the'carrienabout the medialcreases or hinges 13, 23 thereof, the adhesively'connected handle panels 43 aredrawn downwardly, flexing about creases 42, and the bottom panels 40 shift towards horizontal position, bending about :the respective creases 4 I, due to-the-separation of the side Wall members 28. Gussets 44 swing 'open about the diagonal creases lBin-a manner which willbe apparent.

During the above operations the longitudinal partition structuresconstituted :by the elements 31 .3I atone end ofthe carrier and the elements 1.8,3l, ,3! at the othenshift inwardlyto'overlapping relation to the sidesof the central, two-ply handle panel43 as the latter'moves downwardly in a plane paralleling side walls 28. The end margins-of said two-ply handle arethus received in theunadhered pockets 49 between-saidrespective elements,-and, in this condition ,of the parts, aseparate wire handle 50 (preferably of the type shown'anddescribed in my copending application Serial No. 3'7;482, filed July 7, 1948) :is inserted in the handleslots43 and drawn upwardly on opposite outer sides of the cross partition .elements 29, to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. This causes the pocketdefiningielements to be clamped tightly against opposite sides of the handle panel 40, immediately adjacent said-slots, whereby to lock the partition structure in its erected condition.

The handle 50 .includes upstanding bails of considerable length, which enables the handle to be depressed-to or beneath the tops-ofibottles loaded in .the carrier without releasing this frictionally lockedconnection of lthecross and longitudinal partition vmembers, thereby enabling loaded carriers to be stacked one on top-of another. The curved formations 52 on-thegripping bails 5| increase the effectiveness and stability of the frictional grip. If it is desired to dismantle thecarrier, :thisis easily accomplished by'removing the handle after which the carrier isrreadily collapsed to aflat, knocked-down condition.

I claim:

1., A carrier for bottles or like articles, said carrier being formed from a one-piece blank of flexible material and including opposed parallel side walla-bottomdefining sections hingedly connected to lower margins of said side walls, at least-one of said bottom sections being provided with an-integral, one piece vertical extension :disposed :parallel to and between 'said side walls in the erected condition *of the 'carrier, end walls flexibly hinged-to opposed end margins of said side walls'and connected transverse andjlo'ngitudinal partition elements integrally hinged to said side and-end walls'respectively on hinges generallyparallelingthe hinging'of said walls to one anothen'saidlongitudinal partition elements being in parallel 'clamped side-by-side relation tosaid vertical-extension in'the-erected condition of the carrier, said side walls being provided with flaps integrally hinged thereto by horizontal creases, said flaps extending across termini of 6 the @creases said transverse partition elements to said side walls, thereby to-block tearing of said transverse partition elements. at said tormini.

2. A carrier for bottles .or like articles, said carrier being formed from a one-piece blank of flexible material and including opposed parallel side walls,-bottom defining sectionshingedly connected to lower margins 0f said side walls, at leastgoneotsaid sections-being provided with .an integral, one piece vertical extension disposed parallel :to and between said side walls in the erected {condition of the carrier, end walls flexibly hingedto :QDDosed end marginsof said side walla/and connected-transverse and longitudinal partition elements integrally hinged to .said side and-end walls,respectively,=said longitudinal partitiqn elements providing inwardly opening pockets therebetween and coplanar therewith aligned .with and reeeiving'said vertical extension in the erected-condition-of the carrier, in frictionalclampi-ng engagement with said extension, said side walls being provided with flaps integrally hinged thereto by horizontal-creases said flaps extending across termini of the creases hinging said transverse partition elements .to said side walls, thereby to-blocktearing of said transverse partition elements at :said termini.

.3. A carrier .for bottles or like articles, said carrier being formed from a one-piece blank of flexible material and .includingopposed parallel side walls, bottom defining sections hingedly connected 'to lower margins of said side walls and provided with an integraL one-piece vertical extension disposed parallel to and between said side walls in the erected condition of the-carrier, end walls flexiblyhinged to. opposedend margins of saidside .walls,.-and connected transverse and longitudinal partition elements integrally hinged to said side and end walls respectively on hinges generally paralleling the hinge -.connections of said side andend .walls to.one another,.-said partition xelements being separated from said respective walls .by.cuts in the blank intersecting the respective hinge connections of said side and end walls, said longitudinal partition elements being in parallel clamped ,side-by-side relation to, said verticalextension in theerectedcondition of thecarrier, said side .walls being provided with flaps integrally hinged thereto by horizontal creases,-said flaps extending across terminiof the creases hingingsaidtransverse partition elements to :saidsidewalls, thereby to blocktearing of-said transverse partition elementsat said termini.

'4. ,A carrier for :bottles or :like articles, said carrier :being formed .from .a one-piece blank of flexible material and including i opposed parallel sidewallabottom defining sections hingedlyconnected :to lowermargins of :said side walls and provided with ,an integral, one piece vertical :eX- tension disposed ;,parallel to :and between said side walls in :the erectedeondition of the carrier, and walls-flexibly :hinged ,to opposedend-margins of said: side walls, :and :connected transverse and longitudinakpartitionelements of vertical dimension lless than :that .of .said walls integrally hinged to said .iSide and end walls respectively, said.partitionielements being separatedfrom said respective walls .by: cuts inv the blank intersecting the-respective t'hinge; connections of said side and end walls, :said longitudinal partition elements providing-inwardly openi-ngpockets therebetween and: coplanar therewith aligned with and receiving said vertical extension in the erected condition of the carrier, in frictional clamping engagement with said extension, said sidewalls being provided with flaps integrally hinged thereto by horizontal creases, said flaps extending across termini of the creases hinging said transverse partition elements to said side walls, thereby to block tearing of said transverse partition elements at said termini.

5. A carrier for bottles or like articles, said carrier being formed from a one-piece blank of flexible material and including opposed parallel side walls, bottom defining sections hingedly connected to lower margins of said side walls and provided with an integral, one piece vertical extension disposed parallel to and between said side walls in the erected condition of the carrier, end walls flexibly hinged to opposed end margins of said side walls, and transverse and longitudinal partition elements of vertical dimension less than that of said walls integrally hinged to said side and end walls respectively on hinges generally paralleling the hinge connections of said side and end walls to one another, said partition elements being separated from said respective walls by cuts in the blank intersecting the respective hinge connections of said side and'end walls, said longitudinal partition elements providing inwardly opening pockets therebetween and coplanar therewith aligned with and receiving said vertical extension in the erected condition of the carrier, in frictional clamping engagement with said extension, said bottom defining sections and vertical extension thereof being disposed between said carrier side walls in a relatively flat, knock-down condition of the carrier, said side walls being provided with flaps integrally hinged thereto by horizontal creases, said flaps extending across termini of the creases hinging said transverse partition elements to said side walls, thereby to block tearing of said transverse partition elements at said termini.

6. A carrier for bottles or like articles, comprising opposed parallel side walls, a pair of like bottom defining sections each hingedly connected to a lower margin of one of said side walls and provided with an integral, one-piece upright extension disposed parallel to and between said side walls in the erected condition of the carrier, end walls flexibly hinged to opposed end margins of said side walls, and transverse and longitudinal partition elements integrally hinged to said side and end walls respectively, said longitudinal partition elements each including a pair of plies connected to said end walls and extending inwardly thereof in side-by-side relation to one another, said plies providing pockets therebetween aligned with said bottom extension and slidably receiving the latter in the operation of erecting the carrier, said extension being provided with slots adjacent said pockets for the reception of a locking element to frictionally secure the extension between said partition plies in the erected condition of the carrier, said side walls being provided with flaps integrally hinged thereto by horizontal creases, said flaps extending across termini of the creases hinging said transverse partition elements to said side walls, thereby to block tearing of said transverse partition elements at said termini.

7. A carrier for bottles or like articles, comprising opposed parallel side walls, a pair of like bottom defining sections each hingedly connected to a lower margin of one of said side walls and provided with an integral, one-piece upright extension disposed parallel to and between said side walls in the erected condition of the carrier, end walls flexibly hinged to opposed end margins of said side walls, and transverseand longitudinal partition elements integrally hinged to said side and end walls respectively, said partition elements being separated from said respective walls by cuts in the blank intersecting the respective hinge connections of said side and end walls, said longitudinal partition elements each including a pair of plies connected to said end walls and ex tending inwardly thereof in side-by-side relation to one another, said plies providing pockets therebetween aligned with said bottom extension and slidably receiving the latter in the operation of erecting the carrier, said extension being provided with slots adjacent said pockets for the reception of a locking element to irictionally secure the extension between said partition plies in the erected condition of the carrier, said side Walls being provided with flaps integrally hinged thereto by horizontal creases, said flaps extending across termini of the creases hinging said transverse partition elements to said side walls, there:- by to block tearing of said transverse partition elements at said termini.

8. A carrier for bottles or like articles, comprising opposed parallel side walls, a pair of like bottom defining sections each hingedly-connected to a lower margin of one of said side walls and provided with an integral, one-piece upright ex-v tension disposed parallel to and between said side walls in the erected condition of the carrier,

end walls flexibly hinged to opposed end margins of said side walls, transverse and longitudinal partition elements integrally hinged to said side and end walls respectively, said longitudinal partition elements each including a pair of plies connected to said end walls and extending inwardly thereof in side-by-side relation to one another, said plies providing pockets therebetween aligned with said bottom extension and slidably receiving the latter in the operation of erecting the carrier, said extension being provided with slots adjacent said pockets for the reception of a locking element to frictionally secure the extension between said partition plies in the erected condition of the carrier, and a bail type locking element slidably associated in said slots with said extension and partition plies, said side walls being provided with flaps integrally hinged thereto by horizontal creases, said flaps extending across termini of the creases hinging said transverse partition elements to said side walls, thereby to block tearing of said transverse artition elements at said termini.

EDWIN L. ARNESON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,985,075 Bird Dec. 18, 1934 2,335,022 OReilly Nov. 23, 1943 2,354,369 Gilbert July 25, 1944 2,359,678 Ringler Oct. 31, 1944 2,371,312 Potter Mar. 13, 1945 2,431,932 Hall Dec. 2, 1947 2,460,229 Lebold Jan. 25, 1949 2,537,452 Forrer Jan. 9, 1951 2,537,615 Arneson Jan. 9, 1951 2,556,341 Ringler June 12, 1951 2,584,689 Foster Feb. 5, 1952 

